Customer Reviews

The Secrets of Peaches

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The only reason I'm rating The Secret of Peaches three stars is because it is nothing compaired to the first book! Right from the start, the auther tells us that things have changed in the girl's lifes, and that the magic between them is gone. Although I like the fact that these characters do not have the perfect friendship to start (like in real life), with fights, disagreements, etc, it seems that in the second story their friendship is unlikely, and they have grown apart. I also didn't like that auther tried to make The Secrets of Peaches so much more dramatic then (the origanal) Peaches. Truthfuly, the second story is never as good as the first, (in any case). But, I do have to say Jodie Anderson has done avery good job with The Secret of Peaches. Her characters are all well developed.

The story picks up where the first left off, and continues on. Each character has her own part of the story that is totally different from the others, but at the same time each point of view connects.

Birdie: is having a great year with her boyfriend Enrico, until they're relationship takes a turn that Birdie is uncomfortable with. Things get even worse when the house worker Poppie (who is like a mother) starts acting strange. Birdie is overwelmed with anger guilt and sadness. What if things aren't really as they seem?

Leeda: realizes her mother is in fact not perfect. She get's pampered by her mother until older sister Danny comes home from colage with some big news. Leeda's mother forgets her, and Leeda has to figure out how to learn how to do what she wants and follow her own path.

Murphy: has always known she belongs in the city, but when the time comes to move on Murphy is not so sure she's ready. She thinks her boyfriend Rex can come with her, but Rex knows better. Will Murphy follow through with her life plan, or cave in and stay in Bridgwater forever?

Somehow, I think I loved this book more than the first. The first one took awhile to get exciting, but this one just jumped right into it.

Leeda gets attention from her mom for awhile, but it's not long before she leaves the house.

Murphy and Rex are having problems, because of Murphy's desire to go to NYU and leave Georgia behind.

And Birdie, she's worried about Poopie, worried that she's leaving. And everything is wierd between her and Enrico.

I loved it. This reminds me of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I am very glad that I bought this book.

THE SECRETS OF PEACHES takes place where it's prequel, PEACHES, left off.

Birdie, Murphy, and Leeda are all beginning their senior year of high school and each facing their own struggles. Birdie is dealing with a long-distance relationship, now that Enrico has gone back to Mexico, as well as worrying about her housekeeper. Murphy is trying to deal with actually having a serious boyfriend and worrying about where she's going to college. Leeda is dealing with a mother who pays more attention to her older sister instead of her and starts becoming more and more distant from everyone, friends included.

The friends and family drama are what keep this novel moving. I truly think that the friendship of Leeda, Birdie, and Murphy is one of the strongest and most realistic one you'll find in YA fiction. If you enjoyed PEACHES, I'm sure you'll like this one, although it does share the one problem from the previous book - it drags horribly in the middle.

Other than that, I definitely recommend it, especially if you enjoyed the first title.

Reviewed by: Harmony

I found the First book of this series a bit more interesting so to speak but this was great too. Jody Lynn is one of my new favorites and she creates a very realistic story. A must read if you love peaches and friendship!!

I will forgo a recap of the events of the story. I am 35 and yes, I read both of the Peaches books. And I agrees with many of the comparisons of this series that remark on the resemblance to the friendships in Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

I think this particular series has an even stronger sense of self- the way The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk-Kidder has strength. I love the way the author interweaves the italicized bits of information or insight or flashback or nature factoids which reveal which a lot without interrupting the flow of the story. These little asides are key to the elegance of the writing.

Personally, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants seems a little made for TV next the the complicated and skittish characters in Peaches, but it has been a while. It just has a lot more fights and complicated feelings, and that feels like it rings more true to female friendships.

I can't wait for the 3rd installment.

Larissa S. review of The Secret of the Peaches by Jodi Lynn Anderson, March 19, 2008.

The Secret of the Peaches is about three girls, Leeda, Murphy, and Birdie. They all live in Bridgewater, Georgia, a small town where everyone knows about everything. As they finally reach their senior year, they have to face the trouble that college applications, love, and family bring. They each have their separate problems to face as they grow up and apart, but each is able to pursue their dreams. The magic between their friendships is disappearing. The only thing left is their names they engraved on a Mongolian tree in a peach orchard, it some how keeps them together.
Leeda nominated to be Bridgewater's Pecan Queen, basks in the rose-scented glow of her mother's sudden affection, until her sister returns. Leeda's problem is that her mother neglects her which makes Leeda a bit insecure and kind of a push over. As her mother disappoints her one more time, Leeda begins to stand up to anyone who dares get in her way. Leeda has to figure out what she wants and follow her own path.
Murphy has a slight problem. She has a bad girl attitude a wants to leave Bridgewater, Georgia to go to New York City for her college. The only thing holding her back is her boyfriend, Rex, which will not come with her to New York. She wants to be with Rex but wants to go to New York. She will have to choose one or the other.
Birdie is your typical home-schooled farm girl. She has a boyfriend too, Enrico, who lives in Mexico. Birdie thinks that her nanny, Poopie, is retiring. Birdie has known Poopie for a long time and is sad and surprised that she is retiring.

This book was really good. Granted i liked the first one a lot also. I don't know it was a quick read and it was fun and interesting. The writing style of the author is also really good. I really enjoyed this book.

I ordered this book over a month ago. I finally got the book, and it was the wrong one. So now I have to send it back to the company to get the book I originally ordered. I don't not recommend using this company.